Camp Confidential Notebook: Women's Soccer ready to rebound in 2017
MEQUON, Wis. – For the past several seasons, the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Soccer program has been one of the best in the NACC. The Falcons consistently finished near the top of the league standings, which included a NACC Regular Season Title in 2015.
Last fall, the Falcons came into the season with similar expectations. What happened, however, was CUW fell short in several close matches and closed the season with a 5-11-1 overall record, while also missing out on the NACC Tournament.
This season CUW looks to get back to where it belongs, at or near the top of the NACC standings. The Falcons have the talent to get there and are hoping for a rebound season in 2017. CUWFalcons.com gets you ready for the upcoming year.
GOALKEEPER: The Falcons have experience at goalie this fall as senior Tabitha Ortiz is set to handle the starting role. For the first time in her career, Ortiz will not be sharing the net with anyone as she is the unquestioned starter. Ortiz, a 2015 First Team All-NACC selection, has 16 wins and 104 saves in her career while posting a 1.01 goals against average.
BACK FOUR: CUW did lose a pair of starting defenders from a season ago, Abigail Freeland, and a two-time First Team All-NACC player in Faith Palmreuter. Still, the Falcons are excited about their back four this year, largely thanks to the return of 2015 NACC Freshman of the Year, Josie Dombrowski. Dombrowski missed all of last season due to injury but is set to anchor a unit that hopes to keep opponents off the scoreboard in 2017. Emily Sass and Breanne Thomas are other returners expected to make big contributions this fall.
MIDFIELD: CUW returns several players to the midfield this season, including senior Rachel Suarez, who started 17 matches a season ago. Ashley Johnson adds to a talented midfield core, as does sophomore Shannon Carroll.
FORWARDS: Kayla Schlosser is the top returning forward this fall, having scored three goals last season after an 11-goal freshman season in 2015. Brooke Keller is also back in the fold, after appearing in 17 matches last fall, while Nicole Ciesielczyk is expected to move up to a forward position after serving the Falcons mostly in the midfield last fall.
SCHEDULE: The Falcons will once again face a difficult non-conference slate, starting the season with a pair of NAIA schools in Concordia Ann Arbor and Concordia Nebraska. The Falcons will then visit nationally ranked Chicago before welcoming nationally ranked UW-Whitewater. CUW will be tested early in preparation for the conference season.
TABITHA ORTIZ INTERVIEW – Senior goalkeeper Tabitha Ortiz sat down with CUWFalcons.com to discuss training camp and preview the 2017 season.
Q: The team is a few days into training camp, and also has one scrimmage under its belt. How has everything been going with the Falcons so far?
A: After our scrimmage, it definitely looked like we had been together for four days, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We're still figuring each other out, but there were a lot more positives than negatives and a lot of things that are easy fixes. We have a lot of time before our first match and we can make those necessary changes.
Q: Two years ago was a dream season in a lot of ways, and last year it seems like everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. What was the biggest difference between those two years and what do you need to do to get back on track this season?
A: I believe it all starts with how we come into everything with preseason. Preseason can make or break it and sets the tone for the rest of the year and I don't think we started off on the right foot last year. Two years ago we did lose a lot of really good players that had the positive mental attitude we needed. I think this year we are getting it back.
Q: For the first time in your career you are not sharing the net. Does that change anything for you coming into the year and how excited are you to have this opportunity?
A: I'm extremely excited about it. Knowing I don't have to share the spotlight this year is a nice feeling. I feel like it does add a little bit more pressure, but not in a bad sense. I like pressure and I like challenges so this will only motivate me to do better.
Q: One player I'm sure you're excited to have back is Josie [Dombrowski]. What impact does she make for this team?
A: She's a very solid player and not many things get by her. She's a lot like a Faith Palmreuter where not many things get by her. She is a player I trust in front of me and it is good to have her back.
